Popular deli market receives special visit from Lord Mayor

Caption: The Lord Mayor of Leeds Councillor David Congreve and the Lady Mayoress Janet Harper JP, enjoy the delights of the Kirkstall deli market at Kirkstall Abbey with a trader.

A popular market held in the surroundings of one of the city’s most historic visitor attractions has been given a civic seal of approval this month.

The Lord Mayor of Leeds Councillor David Congreve accompanied by the Lady Mayoress Janet Harper JP paid a special visit to the popular deli and crafts & collectables market which free on entry, opens on the last Saturday and Sunday of the month from 12noon-3pm and is situated in the picturesque 12th century Cistercian ruins of Kirkstall Abbey.

During the tour, the Lord Mayor met both visitors and traders at the market, which provides a wide range of high quality products supplied by local producers from March to November every year.

The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor David Congreve said:

"We had a fantastic time visiting Kirkstall Abbey’s deli market, and we would like to thank both visitors and stall holders on the day for their very kind and warm welcome.

"The products available on the stalls really are superb, and as there are only three more markets set to take place this year we would urge anyone who has yet to visit to do so as soon as they can."

Boasting up to 50 stalls, the market is regarded as a perfect place to visit to find high quality local produce, plants, handmade crafts, collectables, vintage treasures, jewellery, artwork and household items from across Yorkshire.

"We are extremely proud of our deli market at Kirkstall Abbey, and it was a real honour that the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress were able to find time in their extremely busy schedules to pay us a visit.

"The amount of hard work which has been undertaken to make our deli market at Kirstall Abbey the success it is today is simply amazing, and I would like to thank everyone who has contributed. We are looking forward to the market continuing to grow and becoming even more popular in the years to come."

"This summer has been absolutely fantastic for the markets and it was a pleasure to welcome the Lord Mayor of Leeds last weekend to show him around. It’s great to see the markets becoming busier and busier each month and it’s with thanks to all the wonderful stall holders and visitors who turn up at the end of every month, whatever the weather that make them such special occasions."

Notes to editors:

Entry to the markets is free and will be held on the following weekends in 2014:

September 27th & 28th

October 25th & 26th

November 29th & 30th

Stalls which feature at this year’s markets can be found here: www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries/Pages/Kirkstall-Abbey.aspx

Kirkstall Abbey is one of the most complete Cistercian monasteries in Britain. Founded in 1152 by Cistercian monks, Kirkstall was a religious centre in Yorkshire until 1539 when it was closed by Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Visitors can explore the abbey ruins to discover where the monks worked, lived and prayed over 800 years ago, from the majesty of the church to the peace of the cloisters.

The Visitor Centre is home to displays about the abbey, which include dressing up and a shop selling unique bespoke products. Entrance to Kirkstall Abbey is Free. There are regular events at the abbey throughout the year, including the Kirkstall Festival every July.